First Student Parliament Meeting 2011-2012
October 31, 2011 Leave a Comment
Queen Margaret University Students’
Union 
First Student Parliament Meeting 2011-2012
25th October 2011
Present:
Maciej Czajka (MC), Michelle Rush (MR), Michael Breckenridge (MB), Melvin Henley (MH),
Fergus Boden (FB), James Holdcroft (JH), Yves Witache (YW), Sarah Watson (SW), Colin Ray (CR), Sarah
Johnston (SJ), Tasena McCreary (TMcM), Magdalena Wroblewska (MW), Gintare
Vosyliute (GV), Bogdan Gligor (BG), Dene Walker (DW), Raina O’Mahony (ROM),
Ciara Merouan (CM), Jessica Da Costa (JDC), Jessica Knapper (JK), Jordan
Hepburn (JH), Elin Nordberg (EN), Mary Shannon (MS), Ciara Steedman (CS), Gemma
Hunter (GH)
Apologies:
Lily
Sze (LS), Jordan Forbes (JF), Laura Timperley (LT), Karolina Zilinskaite (KZ),
Constant Thiollier (CT)
In Attendance:
Cecile
Guilloteau (CG), Qurra Munir (QM)
- 1.
Introduction
The
Chair Maciej Czajka (MC) and Co Chair Michelle Rush (MR) opened the first
Student Parliament Meeting of the year, welcomed all MSPs in attendance and
presented apologies for MSPs not able to attend.
MC
announced that due to the absence of contested positions all MSPs were dully
appointed as per Constitution. MSPs introduced themselves.
James
Holdcroft mentioned that he wanted to add a business to discussion (Safety
Campaign).
- 2.
Warm
up debate: QMU, we are doing OK (on a functional level)
Alan
Gilloran, Vice Principal Academic, was invited to present the National Student
Survey and results from 2011. Cliona Purcell, lecturer, and Hillary Glendinning
Student Retention Project Officer, were also in attendance for the warm up
debate.
Allan
Gilloran reminded that it was important that Student Representatives are aware
of the and feedback on what action should be taken The NSS, completed by 4th
year students on their student learning and teaching experience, was first
implemented in QMU in 2011. Overall results were good although a bit under the
UK overall average satisfaction.
The
NSS is a good tool to understand the opinion of the student body, to further
enhance the student experience and to raise the profile of QMU externally.
QMU
has had good results on communication and quality of teaching however feedback
and assessment remain areas where the University needs to work towards improvements.
QMU plans to take action and to work with all levels of students to make sure
assessment and feedback are improving.
Mary
Shannon (MS) enquired about the absence of Wednesday afternoon off for all
classes here at QMU when most UK institutions have now implemented a Wednesday
afternoon off policy. AG said that timetable has improved in the past years but
students remain unhappy. He added that Programme Leaders were encouraged not to
put any classes on in Wednesday Afternoons.
MH
asked AG what the plans were to take actions. AG said that there was discussion
at Student Staff Consultative Committee Meetings and that the University was
working with the Students Union to gather the student feedback.
MC
asked if the full results were made available to students. Alan Gilloran said
that the release of detailed results will be discussed with the Students’ Union
and that any result will be put into its context so that there is a clear
understanding of every specific figure.
MC
enquired AG about the release of negative result. AG reiterated that negative
results were about assessments and feedback and that action was being taken to
improve it.
Tasena
McCreary acknowledged the NSS was a useful tool but that there was no specific
survey to receive feedback from postgraduate students. Hillary Glendinning
explained that QMU was running an annual internal survey aimed at all QMU
students not eligible to complete fill the NSS.
- 3.
Accommodation
Office
Stephanie Patterson (SP),
Paul Sibanda (PS) and Shaun Haigh (SH) introduced themselves respectively as
Accommodation Manager, Accommodation Officer and Accommodation Administrator.
SP explained that
accommodation was owned by Sanctuary Management Services (SMS) which creates a
gap in communication and adds a difficulty into resolving issues. However QMU
and SMS works together to improve student life in Halls.
A survey is run every year
in March to gather feedback from students. The main request was about the
absence of wireless in Halls which has now been put in place. A machine for
change will soon be available in the laundry which will resolve issues created
with the cashless university. Improvements are also being made so that students
in halls can have a social space in the waiting area and are better aware of
events in the Students’ Union. The QMConnect project has now established a
mentoring group for students living in Halls.
SP reminded that the main
contacts for students were Shaun Haigh and Paul Sibanda. She announced that she
will be leaving her position at the end of November.
Fergus
Boden argued that there was no appropriate recycling scheme in Halls of
Residence. SP said that students could have recycling bins and that they should
make their request to the office. Halls of Residence did not promote it as most
students misuse the bins and do not wish to recycle.
- 4.
Officers
report
MB presented his report to
MSPs. He announced that the summer had been busy rebranding the SU and raising
its profile to the National Union of Students. Students are being better
engaged and this is led by a group of committed part time officers.
MH confirmed that there was
a bigger student engagement and that sport and societies and events were
looking good.
There were no questions
- 5.
Motions
Trustee Terms and Condition
MB presented his motion.
There was no speech against and the motion was passed unanimously.
Complaint and Disciplinary
Procedure
MB presented his motion.
FB asked who in the
procedure was making a judgment. MB explained that this was internal procedure
to the Students’ Union and a panel set up by the Union would make a judgment.
MR asked what would happen
if students are unhappy with the outcome of the procedure. MB said that there
was a possibility of appealing the decision to the University of there was an
irregularity.
BG asked what would happen
if a complaint is not justified. MB said that in this situation a complaint
would not be upheld.
The motion was passed with
19 votes for and 1 abstention.
Mature and Part Time Student
MSP
JH presented the motion.
MH expressed his concern as
having one MSP to represent two underrepresented groups may as consequence make
one group more represented than another depending on the elected student in
position.
CR defended the motion
explaining that NUS had only a Mature and Part Time Student MSP and that both
groups were joined. CR added that if this was not effective then this could be
changed next year.
MB questioned the relevance
of bringing it again and creating a new motion for the same topic.
JH added that in the event
two students, one part time and one mature, were both willing to be pro active then
they could share the job. However, it was unlikely we would have a part time
student representative in SP.
CR concluded saying that PT
students have never had a representative and this is giving them a chance to be
represented.
The motion was passed with
15 votes against 5.
Removal of Male MSP
MW presented her motion.
GV questioned the reality of
women being oppressed here at QMU. MW said that women were not oppressed
directly but this was on the Scottish Government and NUS agenda. Women are in
the society being oppressed which is why there is a Women student
representative. Having a male MSP has no sense as male are not oppressed.
Jessica Da Costa defended
the motion arguing the male students are underrepresented in QMU and that there
was a need to keep a male MSP. MW disagreed as male are not underrepresented.
BD expressed his concern
with founding the existence of a Women representative on the oppression they
face in society. MW said that underrepresented groups were in general more
oppressed and needed representation to defend their rights.
TMcC said that male at QMU
were underrepresented and must feel oppressed.
FB finished the debate
saying there was no harm having a male MSP.
The motion was NOT passed
with 13 votes against, 4 votes for and 3 abstentions
Zero Tolerance Policy
MW presented her motion then
MB presented his amendment.
MB amendment was unanimously
agreed and the amended motion was then discussed. It created a huge debate.
FB questioned the impact of
such policy on the broadcast of music video clip in the SU bar. TMcC said that
the policy was making sense as some students may not want to see nudity all the
time. If this does not constitute a direct form of harassment many students do
not feel welcome in such environment. It also affects the image of the SU.
MH asked MW who would be
responsible for implementing the policy and ensure this is adhered to. MW said
that NUS would provide its support.
MH asked MW to specify which
action would be taken in the event a student feels harassed in the SU bar. MW
said that in this occasion, the student would then need to report to the
University as per regulation.
MR contested the motion
saying that there was already a general behavior of responsibility in general
and there was no need for a new policy. MW said that this would make it more
visible and students would be more aware of where to go.
MB asked who would be doing
the leaflet, the training and all the policy work. MW said that NUS would
provide its support.
As this created debate and
MSPs remained unsure of the place of the policy within the SU, it was decided
to reopen the debate to further discussion at the next meeting (17 votes
against 3)
- 6.
Principal
Petra Wend
The Principal reminded that
when she first arrived a couple of years there was serious financial
difficulties but that this was now resolved. This necessitated cuts in staff
and management but support to students has been increased The University was
now attracting sponsors, donors and recruiting new members of staff. However
students remain unhappy and satisfaction can become better.
MH asked the principal how
the support to students had increased.
Principal Petra Wend
explained that there had been no cuts as opposed to academic and management
budgets and that up coming issues were discussed on a weekly basis. Any member
of support staff leaving is replaced.
The Principal asked MSPs why
students were unhappy with feedback.
Colin Ray and Jessica Da
Costa said that release of feedback was late and not in the same timing. Students
are unaware of the work of academic staff and the implication of corrections
which explains why they complain so much.
MB suggested that there may
be a need for training for staff.
The end of the speech could
not be minuted as there was 19 MSPs in attendance until one MSPS came back from
class
- AOCB
MSPs
agreed to discuss the LRC printing and IT efficiency issues at the next meeting
as the guest speaker is the member of staff responsible for IT and LRC.
International
Student Sponsorship
TMcC
explained to MSPs that American students had been issued letter from the
University stating that they would receive funding and they were sponsored by
the US Educational Department. However, once in the UK, students were finding
that no agreement had been made. This is a legal issue as American students
needs to evidence they have funding to support themselves when coming to study
in the UK. Students also find themselves
with no resources.
TMcC
asked a vote to mandate the President to investigate on the matter and ensure
this does not happen again. The mandate was passed.
Wednesday
Afternoon Off
MS
informed MSPs that not all students had their Wednesday afternoon off and that
some students could not play games.
MH
supported MS. He added that this was approved last year and that no students
should have compulsory classes on Wednesday Afternoon.
He
will further investigate.
Student
Led Teaching Award
MB
presented his project of SLTA to reward members of staff who are highly
involved in the development of teaching.
MB
invited MSPs to expresstheir interest to join the group
Safety
Campaign
JH
informed MSPs he was working on a safety campaign and Flash Mobs will be
organized the week commencing 14th November
Maciej
Czajka thanked all MSPs for their attendance and closed the meeting.
